An apparatus (200) has a document receiver (201) to receive a document and an image scanner (202) to facilitate capturing an image of that document. A data compressor (204) compresses the document image data and a transmitter (206) forwards the document image data to a predetermined processing center (302). These actions preferably occur in automated fashion in response to a trigger (209), thereby avoiding a need for a local user to interface with the apparatus much beyond simply presenting the document to the apparatus. Depending upon preference, encryption and post-capture image processing can also be provided. In a preferred approach, a local user output (212) provides status or other information to a local user.